Consultation Services: Changing Roles for SLPs

Speech and language consultation services are presented as a viable form of service delivery in the public schools. Expert and process models of consultation are presented for consideration by SLPs working with teachers. The roles and responsibilities of the SLP consultant are highlighted for each model. Collaborative consultation is proposed as particularly useful for meeting the speech-language needs of students in special education programs. It is presented as a supplement to the individual or small-group direct therapy services provided in the public schools. Principles of consultation are presented and key consulting behaviors (active listening, situational leadership, feedback, reinforcement, observation, and data collection) are described.